O-BJA-2025-172588: BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply- Transforming Prison Cultures, Climates, and Spaces
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Bureau of Justice Assistance notices from 2026.
Bureau of Justice Assistance offered grants of up to $1.0 million to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make one award. Applications closed on May 6, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed April 24, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | April 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 6, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Only applicants that received an official invitation letter from BJA are able and eligible to apply. Applications will only be accepted from the following: Keystone Restituere Justice Center, Inc.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative awards averaged $898,947; this notice allows up to $1.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (59% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the BJA FY 2025 Invited to Apply for Transforming Prison Cultures, Climates, and Spaces. Originally released in FY23, BJA’s Transforming Prison Cultures, Climates, and Spaces program funded the development and initial implementation of the Safe Inside Initiative, which supports state departments of corrections (DOC) in their efforts to improve safety, security, and reduce recidivism, particularly among prisons facing acute workforce challenges. Through the Safe Inside Initiative funded via this program, state DOCs will receive highly specialized and technical training to help them effectively recruit, train, and retain qualified staff, and streamline operations in response to workforce trends.
Who has won Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (16.812) awarded $402 million across 447 grant awards, an average of $898,947 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Council of State Governments LTD. | Kentucky | 6 | $23.7 million |
| American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences | Virginia | 3 | $12.4 million |
| Impact Justice | California | 4 | $11.4 million |
| The Soulfisher Ministries | Missouri | 3 | $5.7 million |
| Vera Institute of Justice, Inc. | New York | 3 | $4.5 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is O-BJA-2025-172588 still open?
No. It closed on May 6, 2026.
Who can apply for BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply- Transforming Prison Cultures, Climates, and Spaces?
Bureau of Justice Assistance accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for BJA FY 25 Invited to Apply- Transforming Prison Cultures, Climates, and Spaces?
Closed May 6, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.0 million each.
Who has won Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Council of State Governments LTD., American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences, Impact Justice. The program made 447 awards worth $402 million in that time.
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